ATTACK OF THE DRONES

Hi-tech eyes in sky to police boatie ‘squatters’

FED-UP waterways bosses are turning to drones to take on boaties illegally “squatting” on the Broadwater.

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority chief executive Hal Morris says the hi-tech eyes in the sky will provide footage that can be used in court to prove that boats haven’t moved.

“You can only stay for seven days in particular zones,” he said. “We need to enforce that.

“If people are permanently squatting … they’re preventing people who have every right to expect to have their turn at a nice spot on the waterway having their fair go.”

GOLD Coast waterways bosses are preparing to unleash a fleet of drones to crack down on boaties “squatting” in the Broadwater.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority chief executive Hal Morris has commissioned a report this month into the use of drones to photograph and then penalise boaties found to have moored vessels in the Broadwater for too long.

Mr Morris said the recent trial conducted by waterways staff was promising.

“Depending on where you are there are different zones ... you can only stay for seven days in particular zones,” he said. “We need obviously to enforce that.

“Up until now, we’ve had a boat crew which is quite expensive to the taxpayer and a vessel. We’ve completed a trial that looks like it really stacks up to provide footage for us and evidence which will stand up in court that a vessel hasn’t moved.”

Mr Morris said it was im“If

portant to keep turning over vessels moored in the Broadwater.

“Water quality issues … that’s part of it,” he said. “Another major issue is to give everybody a fair crack at these fantastic spots.

people are permanently squatting … they’re preventing people who have every right to expect to have their turn at a nice spot on the waterway having their fair go.”

Southport Yacht Club general manager Brett James praised the initiative and said he hoped the Authority unleashed a fleet of drones to clean up the city’s waterways before the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“We’re trying to protect an image of the Gold Coast. I think that’s the key,” he said. “Safety is the major issue. You’ve got boats, too many … also the water quality is a major issue.”

Mr James said boaties illegally dumped their effluent into the Broadwater – adversely affecting water quality.

“A lot of these boats are live-aboards but they don’t pump out (their waste),” he said. “They don’t pump out their sewerage or anything so they just dump it straight into the water.

“A few places around have pump-out facilities and I don’t see a lot of these boats using them.”

Waterways Authority boss Hal Morris said there were a number of issues that would have to be considered before drones could be used including privacy.

“We have one of our enforcement officers who’s done the trial,” he said. “The best arrangement seems to be to purchase our own.

“It’s pretty congested airspace when you think about it … the other thing is the privacy side of it.”